How to achieve S-rank in Deltarune

By Ambar Jimenez | 2025-06-06 08:37:45

One of the most gratifying and intellectually stimulating aspects of immersing oneself in the world of Deltarune is the profound satisfaction derived from unlocking its elusive secret bosses and meticulously uncovering the myriad mysteries that are only accessible to those who dare to push the boundaries of conventional gameplay. This often involves relentless exploration of every hidden nook and cranny of the vast, intricate maps. In the specific context of Chapter 3, every significant secret and hidden pathway appears to revolve intrinsically around your performance ranks during Tenna’s highly anticipated game show.If your primary objective is merely to complete the chapter's main narrative without delving into the intricacies of its hidden boss, you are free to progress through each round of the game show, accepting whatever rank you happen to achieve, and simply move forward. However, the discovery of Chapter 3's deepest secrets is entirely contingent upon your overall performance and mastery of the game show's challenges. This comprehensive guide will meticulously walk you through the strategies and requirements for achieving an coveted S-rank on every single round of Tenna's game show in Deltarune.

How to Achieve S-rank in Deltarune

In Deltarune, Tenna’s exhilarating game show is comprised of three distinct rounds, each presenting an opportunity for you to achieve the prestigious S-rank. Your ultimate rank at the conclusion of each round is precisely determined by the cumulative number of points you have amassed. This point total is influenced by a tripartite system, factoring in the following three crucial elements:

Your battle performance: The efficiency and skill demonstrated during combat encounters.

Points gained outside of combat: Bonus points acquired through exploration and puzzle-solving.

Minigame score: Your proficiency in the unique end-of-round minigames.

In essence, consistently achieving an S-rank demands a multifaceted approach: you must strive to take as little damage as possible during the various battles while simultaneously maintaining a high TP (Tension Points) gauge; actively seek out and collect points through various means outside of direct combat; and, finally, perform exceptionally well in the challenging, fast-paced minigames presented at the end of each round. Let’s dissect each of these influential factors in greater detail.

Battle Ranking

The first, and arguably most foundational, factor that significantly impacts your overall rank is your battle performance. Within each round of Tenna's game show, you will engage in threedistinct combat encounters. Each of these battles is rigorouslyevaluated based on a specific set of criteria: how minimal the damageyou sustain, how swiftly you manage to defeat your opponent, and thelevel of TP you successfully maintain throughout the engagement.

Fundamentally, your battle rank is a direct reflection of your inherent skill and proficiency with Deltarune's unique combat system. Should you find yourself struggling toconsistently avoid enemy projectiles, attaining an S-rank in the combatsegment might prove challenging. In such scenarios, consider a moredefensive approach: try utilizing the "Defend" action a few extra timesand relying on consumable food items for healing, rather than solelydepending on Ralsei’s healing spells. This strategy helps to conserveyour TP, which is vital for a high battle rank. Conversely, if youpossess excellent dodging abilities but neglect your TP management, your final rank will similarly suffer. The optimal strategy, therefore,involves striking a delicate balance: consistently keeping your TP above the S-rank threshold for each battle while simultaneously dodging aseffectively as possible and concluding fights in a relatively smallnumber of turns.

It is also important not to become overly disheartened if you happen to secure an A-rank inone or two individual fights here and there. Even if your overall combat performance for a round culminates in an A-rank, exceptional scores inthe other contributing areas can still compensate and ultimately enableyou to achieve the coveted S-rank for the entire round.

Points Gained Outside of Combat

Another highly effective method to significantly boost your end-of-round rank is through the accumulation of points outside of direct combat. Early in the game show, this will primarily involve correctly answering quiz questions presented to you, diligently searching for andcollecting scattered coins across the map, and notably, discovering aspecial croissant item. This croissant, once found, grants you theability to pull weeds out of the ground, an activity that consistentlyrewards additional points. Rest assured, the croissant is an item youwill naturally encounter as you progress through the map, so there's noneed to worry about it being a hidden secret that might be easilymissed.

To illustrate the potentialimpact of these non-combat points, consider a personal example: Imeticulously answered every quiz question correctly and dedicated extratime to methodically pulling weeds across the map. This concerted effort allowed me to conclude Round One with an impressive 1,750 points earned entirely outside of combat. This substantial accumulation resulted in a "T-rank" for this specific category (a rank even higher than S), whicheffectively offset an A-rank performance in both battles and theend-of-round minigame, ultimately enabling me to achieve an overallS-rank for the round. Provided you are willing to thoroughly explore the entire map, attaining an S-rank, or even a T-rank, is entirelyachievable simply by having Susie systematically pull weeds for thosevaluable extra points. While this method might demand a slightly moreextensive effort in later rounds, its feasibility remains undiminished.

Minigame Score

The final, yet equally crucial, factor that plays a pivotal role in determining your overall ranking is your performance in the end-of-round minigames. Each round of Tenna’s game show culminates in a unique minigame,typically lasting for approximately two minutes. While I will refrainfrom spoiling the specifics of every minigame, the initial one, forinstance, will rigorously test your capacity to collect rapidly fallingobjects while simultaneously navigating and avoiding a constant barrageof dynamic obstacles. The greater the number of points you manage toscore in these minigames, the higher your corresponding rank will be. In the case of the first minigame, achieving an S-rank generallynecessitates collecting approximately 500 points.

This particular aspect of the ranking system is often considered thetrickiest, primarily because you cannot practice your minigame skillsbeforehand. It is strongly advised to pay close attention to Tenna’sinstructions given just before the minigame commences, and if necessary, take a few moments to mentally prepare yourself for the uniquechallenges ahead. The first minigame emphasizes a delicate balancebetween raw speed and precise agility as you expertly dodge obstacles,whereas subsequent minigames will undoubtedly prioritize entirelydifferent sets of skills and reflexes.

But what if, despite your best efforts, you had a less-than-stellar battleperformance or made a critical error during a minigame, leading to anA-rank or even lower? Does this mean you forfeit your chance atuncovering Deltarune Chapter 3's highly sought-after secrets? Fortunately, there is one final, redemptive method you can employ.

How to Get S-rank After a Round Ends in Deltarune

If, at the conclusion of a round, you find yourself with an A-rank orlower, there is a lifeline available: you can purchase an instant S-rank from a specific character. This mysterious individual can be foundsouth of the Green Room and offers the S-rank upgrade for a fee of 1,500 points. To locate this character, simply exit the Green Room through thedoorway positioned between the two televisions, then proceed left andcontinue running down the hall until you arrive at a prominent goldenTenna statue.

Turning down the hallfrom this point will lead you directly to the character who is willingto sell you the S-rank for that particular round, provided you possessthe requisite number of points. It is crucial to have the full 1,500points, as failing to meet this requirement will mean missing out onthis valuable opportunity entirely.

What Does S-rank Do in Deltarune?

Achieving S-rank is the absolutely essential first step on your journey to discovering Deltarune Chapter 3's elusive secret boss. Before you can even attempt to locate this hiddenadversary, you will need to gain entry into a highly exclusive S-starred door, prominently situated in the top-right corner of the Green Room. While a diligent guard typically prevents unauthorized access, they will permit you to pass through if, and only if, you have achieved the prestigiousS-rank, thereby granting you access to the room’s profound secrets.

Beyond some delightfully goofy interactions with a few peculiar charactersfound within, the true and most significant treasure concealed behindthese doors is an alternative single-player minigamespecifically designed for Kris to engage with. Diligently playingthrough this unique minigame after the completion of each round ofTenna's game show allows you to systematically collect a series ofcrucial keys. As you approach the grand finale of theround, these accumulated keys will prove to be a core and indispensablecomponent in the ultimate discovery of Deltarune Chapter 3's enigmatic secret boss.

Platform(s): macOS, Windows PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 PS4 . Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5 PS5

Genre(s): Role-playing

Developer(s): Toby Fox

Publisher(s): Toby Fox

Engine: GameMaker Studio 2

Mode: Single-player

Age rating (PEGI): +12

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